Tuesday, November 30, 2010

OMG the horror!! Truly, the most awful movie I have seen in some time, and I even didn't bother finishing it, I was soooappalled. The horrid tacky clothes that looked like they had shopped in DonatellaVersaces house of crap, the over the top holiday destination, that looked like it was filmed in Miami, would have all been fine if it wasn't held together by a boring, dull, tedious and tired script. It wasn't funny, or witty, or even clever, just droll and pathetic.

The first scene was an indication that it was going to be bad, I don't mind the gay wedding - that was the only good bit about it, the horrid cheap and tacking looking set with over the top choir, and minister and the most awful dated dance/song routine - le shudder!

In a time, when everybody is pinching pennies and worried about losing their jobs, this was just done wrong. I don't think that Carrie should be baking cookies, or planting lettuces, but I hate the whole flashy money thing, it is not a world that anyone I know lives in.

So a big 0/5 for this baby - it makes NZ TV look good, and that's saying something.

Kidnapped at age 10, on her way to school, Natascha Kampusch was made famous as the girl who was kidnapped and held in a cellar for close to 8 years. Abused physically and sexually, I did not realise that she was also starved and kept underweight while trapped. You have to admire the girl, for putting her own story out there in her words, as so much has been written about her.

The book was small and quick to read, but you get the feeling that there is so much more that is unwritten, but it is truly a miracle that she survived and got away, and from the interviews I have seen, seems smart and capable. I think though, that the pervs that do stuff like this deserve to be strung up in the middle of town. 3/5

Monday, November 22, 2010

Early America must have been a desolate and scary place, where life in the colony was hard and full of hardship. In the 1700s, French girls were paid to come over and marry the soldiers and men who were trying to make a living in Louisiana. Elizabeth Savaret arrives and finds herself married to Jean-Claude Babelon, an infrantryman.

Although the book was well written, and the characters were interesting, I found myself somehow a bit disinterested, and a bit tired of it by the end. 2/5

I guess after the success of the earlier Dewey book, author Vicki Myron would be encouraged to do another story. This one is about cats who have touched others lives, a bit about the impact of Deweys story and also what has changed in Vickis life.

It was ok, I'll give it a 3/5 but it is pretty light stuff. Any animal lover knows the impact that special pets have on your life, and how your life can be made better by sharing it. It didn't make me teary, and in fact I would have loved more stories, as some seemed somewhat drawn out.

Sunday, November 21, 2010

I guess if you are of a certain age, you know the story of John Lennons childhood, and how the Beatles got together. I guess I had read about it in a few biographies and magazines from way back, so I found the beginning of the movie a bit slow. However the performances were great, in the end I thought it sweet and sad at the same time. It tells how his background damaged him, and the thought of him ringing his aunty every week, made me feel that the naughty rockstar boy really cared about her, and all she did for him.

Thursday, November 18, 2010

Le sigh, I have all caught up on the mad men DVD series. Secretly I love the stylish decors and fashions, and of course we all love the Don. Don celebrates a manliness that is appealing in a Hollywood that seems to full of manboys, you know the male actors who are 40ish and act 20, and also have the flabbiness of your brothers unemployed friend.

There is also a part of me that hates the sexist attitudes, the racism and the snobbishness that seem to be prelevant in the portrayed era. Still it does a great job of showing the secrets stewing underneath the picture perfect surface.

So I have to give in now, and stop with the DVD series, they sure are a big time suck. Time to knuckle down to packing, and start some new series in 2011.

4/5 - and I can't wait for a new series. If only for the motor mower episode - classic.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Another book being turned into a movie. I had read good things in blogland about this one, but it was a bit so so for me. It felt like a story I had already read, and seemed a rehash of sentimental rom com movies. You know the premise, young in their 20s guy and girl meet, and keep in touch, secretly wish for each other, wait til they are middle aged and hook up again.

I feel like I am slowly chugging my way through a few books slowly, as I am attempting to try to pack my stuff up, so that I can move next month. So the books need to hold my interest, otherwise I am returning them to the library quick smart.

This was one of those books that I have been meaning to read, but somehow not got around to. I think I had even borrowed it from the library a couple of times, but time restraints had made me return it, and even this time I kept picking it up and putting it back.

I am so glad I finally started, because from the first page to the last it had me captivated. I enjoyed every page, and was sad that it was ending. I was even sadder when today, as I googled the book cover, I found out that Rob Pattinson and Reece Wettherspoon are making the movie of the story as we speak. Now they are just fine actors on their own, I just don't seem them in these roles, not at all.

The story, well the story is of a veterinary student Jacob, who after dropping out of his studies, finds himself joining an American travelling circus and finds himself in charge of the animal care. He also gets to meet the personalities that live the circus life.

If you haven't read this one yet, I think it should be added to your must be read in 2011 pile. 5/5 - as it is hard to fault.

Monday, November 08, 2010

The last book I read in Jane Austens style, trying to recreate her special style bombed for me, which was a pain, as I waited weeks for the library reserve to come through. This one though, well I enjoyed it. For me I loved hearing about how Janes own life influenced so many of her characters.

Really you do wonder, how a poorish spinster who lives with her mother and sister manages to create a world of characters, who are still funny and smart today, two hundred years later.

One of the few books that I have read recently, that I might have wished was longer!! 4/5

Friday, November 05, 2010

Hello Mr Butler with your shirt off, often you are better when you are not saying anything, coz when you try and hide your Scottish accent, your mouth does funny things, like you are sucking on plums.

I do feel sorry for you, what happened to your character was rough, and you did deserve to go after the bad guys, but about 3/4 of the way through it just turned silly and unbelievable, and you didn't take any more of your clothes off, so I sort of read my book.

Oh and Jamie Foxx, I like you playing smart not smarmy or sleazy. Mr producer/directors, for lots of ladies I think you might of realised that for a lot of ladies being a loving husband and father is sexy. It is the manboys who think all ladies want a player. Just saying.

3/5 - just because it was kind of slick and a bit thought provoking about the justice system.

Ohh tv - you truly do almost suck at the moment. If it weren't for some of the reality tv, I would have sold you to poor students. I must admit to declaring my love for Project Runway, The Block and anything with cooking in it. Beyond that, there is not much to take my fancy, so it has been DVD city here. I am also trying to avoid movie going, which hurts me to say, but the cost had got quite steep and for the same price you can get 5+ DVDs.

So My Life in Ruins, all I could think about was how great Nia looks for 48, how much her collarbones stood out, how she looked like she hadn't had any cabs in a year, how great her hair was, how blue the sky looked, how there didn't seem to be many Greek people in a movie set in Greece, how the tourists were cliches which they all often are, and how I never want to go on a bus tour.

I like sometimes, a bit of reality reading, a good biography or taste of life. This one is the story of Melanie, who decides at 106kg that enough it enough of dieting, and to have a gastric band inserted. Like any surgical intervention, this isn't a miracle cure but a tool to help in weight loss.

Melanie is an amusing author and I like her honesty in this story, the battle with running, ice cream and chocolate. I work at the hospital though, and we seem to see an awful lot of people with gastric bands with ongoing problems. I also think that it is a relatively new procedure, and that we don't know how it will affect people 30 years after having it. Still it seems a good choice for some people and helps many out of the fat battle.

Thursday, November 04, 2010

I went into this one with mixed reservations and low expectations, as I had heard many variations of the reviews. I knew it was long, knew it was all about the Julia, and knew it was an annoying patronising story. Coz, really girlfriend if you are really in a bad marriage and totally unhappy, then leave, but you don't have to go to an ashram to find yourself.

I've got the book, but never read it - only because I had seen the author on Oprah and was so annoyed by her, and her pompous I have found the secret to finding yourself attitude. Most of my friends were the same. Maybe us Kiwi women have travelled and had adventures, with most of my besties all living overseas for a couple of years and travelling through Europe, Africa and Asia.

Anyhoo, because I didn't expect much I didn't find it too bad, I enjoyed the scenery, the men were kind of cute and Julia Roberts, well she seemed a bit uptight but I like her, she seems pretty grounded.

I can only give it a 2/5 though, as I wouldn't rush to recommend it, or buy the DVD.

Wednesday, November 03, 2010

The theme tune is rolling around in my head as I write this, and I am thinking that there is not much not to love about this series. The spot on decor, to which I am always admiring their lamps, and gorgeous costumes and the intelligent writing. Even more so, I admire a story line where the men seem to be manly, even if they are sexist and bigots, they are not the manboys that prevail in modern movies and series. You know the ones, Grown ups in their 30's and 40's that still love their skateboards and video games.

So rather than watching cruddy repeats, I spent a week watching this second series and am am enjoying this one, as I had not seen many of these when they originally played. I am also enjoying that Peggy has a bigger role to play and that we are learning about Dons past and some of his secrets.